Eyepieces

[Strider_ (Dylan)]

This is my second post here on IIS and it regards my recent experience investing in some premium eyepieces. When I purchased my scope(12”f5 dob) I received the standard 9mm, 15mm and 32mm eyepieces, I also purchased a fairly cheap 7.5mm Saxon ED eyepiece. I had read nothing on the Saxon eyepiece and things like true field of view were unknown to me. I found the view spectacular through all four eyepieces although I did find myself favouring the 7.5mm Saxon and the 32mm both these eyepieces seemed much more comfortable, a lot of nights the 9mm and 15mm did not leave their boxes.


After becoming quite familiar with my scope and having had time to save my pennies I decided it was time to purchase a new premium eyepiece. I read countless posts, reviews and articles and became quite familiar with eyepiece magnification and field of view. It seemed like there were two choices to buy myself a single premium eyepiece like a Nagler or a couple of mid range eyepieces. I found myself having an opinion and information overload. After reading a promising review of a 13T6 Nagler by a fellow F5 12” owner and seeing it was not out of my price range I took the plunge.


When I first put my eye to the Nagler on a dark evening I was truly blown away. I now understood why I had read numerous times that looking through an eyepiece like this was looking through a porthole. Yes the stars were sharp and yes the field of view was amazing but this is not what I found most impressive. Some galaxies in Dorado had eluded me, I was convinced that the authors of “Atlas of the southern night sky” were having a laugh at my expense but now armed with my Nagler I pointed my scope at their supposed location and when I put my eye to the eyepiece... I was sold that Nagler was worth every penny for that single view, there they were. I am not saying that a lesser eyepiece would not reveal these galaxies I am not to sure why this one did? The larger field of view? Better light throughput? I would have paid just to be able to get that view night after night. Needless to say the Nagler was instantly my most used eyepiece.


Since then after receiving some vouchers for Christmas I have also invested in a 2.5xPowermate and a 24mm Panoptic. While I would have loved a 26mm Nagler I am afraid my budget did not stretch that far, also the Panoptic continued 1.25inch trend of the Powermate and all my filters. First light with the Panoptic was just as impressive as the Nagler. The Eta Carina Nebula and the Tarantula nebula with my UHC filter both amazed me, I was not overly fond of the UHC filter until using it with the Panoptic.


So my advice to anyone else looking to upgrade their eyepiece arsenal. Obviously try before you buy if that is at all possible. While I cannot comment on other brands as I own none I assure you that the Televue eyepieces may be expensive but if a single view can convince me that the purchase was worth the money, then the countless views to come are freebies. Also I suggest that you familiarise yourself with the true field of view of eyepieces and their magnifications. Sit down and work out the range of magnifications and fields of view you will get with a Barlow or likewise on eyepieces you are considering, write a list or a table so you can see which two or three eyepieces will give you the best spread. I do wish I had done this before diving into my premium purchases although I am very, very happy with what I have.

[astro744]

Congratulations on your Tele Vue! The 24mm Panoptic and 13mm Nagler is a very nice combo and the 2.5x Powermate does give you access to higher powers with both. Your next choice will be more difficult though as you do not really need anything between the 13mm and the 24mm but if your were to say choose the 16T5 or 19Pan (same true field) you will get quite different powers when combined with the 2.5x Powermate if the high power combo is what you are after.

Now that you have tasted Tele Vue, save up for a low power 2" eyepiece even if it is a 26mm or 31mm Nagler (and please keep the 24Pan as it is a most versatile eyepiece in any telescope). If you were impressed with the 24 Pan and UHC, just wait until you see the Eta Carina nebula with an O-III filter and 31mm Nagler!

If you want even sharper stars at the edge you can add a Paracorr unless you don't find the coma with 12" at f5 objectionable.

For true field calculations see http://www.televue.com/engine/TV3_page.asp?id=89

or create a spreadsheet for yourself and add eyepieces and telescopes as you aquire them. You can get the Tele Vue eyepiece parameters at http://www.televue.com/engine/TV3_page.asp?id=28

You need the field stop diameter for calculating true field. If the eyepiece has the same field stop diameter it will give you the same true field in a given telescope.

You have made a wise choice, enjoy!

[morls (Stephen)]

Hi Dylan,
I've also recently made my first premium purchase, like you it was a 13mm nagler. I think it's a fantastic eyepiece, and has made my time with the scope (8" Dob) so much more enjoyable. I've also invested in some catseye collimation gear, which is also excellent....
I'm now saving for a 27mm Panoptic......
Stephen

[Strider_ (Dylan)]

Stephen,
I also seriously considered the 27 Panoptic the only thing that pushed me towards the 24 was the 1.25 barrel. I imagine the 27 Panoptic is just as, if not more impressive than the 24.


Astro a low power Nagler and some 2inch filters will surely make there way into my kit but I may need to save a few more pennies first.


Dylan

[morls (Stephen)]

Yeah, I thought of the 24mm too, but the 27mm Panoptic has a field stop of 30.5mm, which is getting close to twice that of the 13mm nagler (17.6mm). The 26mm T5 Nagler is a perfect fit here, with a field stop of 35mm, but at $300 more than the Panoptic is really pushing things....

There is a part of me that says get the Pan, which would be a fantastic eyepiece, and more affordable in the short term, and another voice that says save for the Nagler, it would be the perfect match for the 13mm I have....

With the money I save by going for the Panoptic I could then afford a good 2" filter.....

But the Nagler would be sooo good.....maybe just be patient....

[Suzy]

Hi Dylan,

That was a really great post you did on the benefits of premium eye pieces. Your post will educate many I'm sure.

I hope I don't get into trouble for saying this, but I really do feel people are robbing themselves of what they can see by just settling with mid range eyepieces. I don't have Naglers, but I do own Pentax XW & Vixen LVW which are premium eyepieces as well. You see so much more out of the premium eye pieces because there is less loss of light thereby giving more contrast. So yes, you will see more detail. When I first bought my scope, I followed good advice - you should spend as much on your eyepieces as you spend on your scope .
I just don't see the sense in spending so much money on a scope and being stopped by limitations of a mediocre eyepiece.
Just two premium eyepieces in your most used f/lengths is a necessity not a luxury in my opinion.

Congratulations on your Nagler purchase!

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Well done Dylan
The 13mm Nag and 24mm Pan are my EPs and I love em both, the 24mm is easily the most use bit of kit (apart from the scope itself) I have.
Well done again these should give you lots of viewing pleasure over the years.

Malcolm